Louis Cimaglia Sr., Masonry Business Owner, From Davie

OBITUARIES

Louis Cimaglia Sr., a longtime South Florida resident who once owned his own masonry business and was involved in several community organizations died Thursday of cancer. He was 85.

Mr. Cimaglia, a native of Providence, R.I., started his business from scratch after moving to Hollywood in 1956. In the years that followed, he became one of the largest masonry contractors in South Florida, said his son, Louis Cimaglia Jr. of Coral Springs.

Working out of his west Davie home, Mr. Cimaglia worked with clients from northern Miami-Dade County to southern Palm Beach County. He also was a member of a number of community groups, including the Davie Optimist Club, The Rhode Island Club, The Order Sons of Italy and the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Cimaglia also was a devoted family man.

``His number-one role in life was that of a father and husband,'' his son said. ``He was just wonderful. He took pride in being with us when we were growing up.''

Although a quiet man, Mr. Cimaglia also had a mischievous nature, and he enjoyed teasing people and playing practical jokes.

``He was very upbeat in his life,'' his son said. ``Nothing ever got him down.''

Mr. Cimaglia retired in 1977 and also curtailed his other activities after he began to lose his vision.

But one activity he did not give up was fishing, something he loved doing for hours. Besides his son, Mr. Cimaglia is survived by his wife, Mary; a daughter, Ann Marie Turner, of Ocala; sons Thomas Cimaglia, of Plantation, and Anthony Cimaglia, of Boca Raton; 12 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; three brothers and eight sisters.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated today at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Boca Raton. Entombment will follow at Queen of Heaven Mausoleum in North Lauderdale.

The family requests that donations be made to Hospice of Marion County Inc., Estelle's House, 2897 SE 62nd St., Ocala, FL 34480.